Why Osinbajo must not sign 2017 budget into law – Femi Falana

Mr Femi Falana
Activist lawyer, Femi Falana, has urged the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo not to sign the 2017 budget because it was illegally increased by the National Assembly.

Speaking in Kwara State, Falana noted that the National Assembly had no constitutional powers to increase the budget presented by Buhari, adding that the legislators erred constitutionally by increasing their share of the budget.

He also said that President Muhammadu Buhari was not competent to sign the 2017 budget into law because he was on vacation.

The lawyer said since Buhari transmitted a letter to the National Assembly informing them of his medical vacation, all presidential powers had automatically been transferred to Osinbajo who was now the Acting President.

Falana stressed that until the President writes another letter to the federal parliament at the end of his vacation, he cannot exercise the powers of his office.

He said, “The President is not competent to sign any bill into law while he is on vacation. The constitution did not envisage that a President who is on a vacation and an acting president, who is standing proxy for him will be exercising presidential powers simultaneously.

“To that extent, pending the resumption of duties by President Buhari, the Acting President, Prof. Osinbajo, is competent to sign all bills validly passed by the NASS.

“If President Buhari did not exercise powers during his vacation even though he was in the country, why would he want to do so while he is on medical vacation abroad?

“Instead of dissipating energy over the competence of an appropriation bill signed into law by the Acting President, Nigerians should subject the 2017 budget to scrutiny.

“We are therefore calling on the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who is a professor of law not to endorse and sign the illegal appropriation bill of 2017 into law.”